What we take care of
- Aged-out detectors traded for models with a sealed decade-long cell
- Wired detectors changed on their own pigtail and base
- CO units placed by the bedroom wing and on every story
- Dual smoke-and-CO units where hallway space is tight
- Nuisance trips and constant beeping traced to the unit responsible
- Plaster-and-lath ceilings drilled slowly with the right anchors
Older homes and California’s alarm law
Housing here skews old: Census estimates for 2020–2024 give a median build year of 1957. Wired detection simply wasn’t part of construction then, so coverage today reflects whatever owners have added since. California’s HSC 13113.7 still expects every home to have Fire Marshal approved smoke detection; a battery unit is acceptable where no local ordinance demands otherwise.
What you can buy changed in 2014. HSC 13114 now limits Fire Marshal listing of battery-only smoke units to ones with a sealed cell rated for a decade or more. The state’s CO law then reaches any single-family house that burns fuel inside, has a fireplace, or shares a wall with a garage, and an old floor furnace or gas wall heater counts.
What the visit looks like
Inventory
Every detector is located and its date read; rooms lacking one are noted.
Placement
Spots are marked in bedrooms, the hall serving them and each story, clear of supply registers.
Mounting
Plaster gets suitable anchors; a wired unit plugs into a matching pigtail on the old base.
Proof
Each unit is sounded before we pack up, and its install month is written on the base.
Where our part stops
Brand-new wired runs, panel-based fire systems and monitored security sensors belong with an electrician or your monitoring company. Ours is battery units and swaps on wiring already in place.
Before the visit, text us
Pictures of current detectors, a count of bedrooms and stories, and whether a gas furnace, wall heater, fireplace or attached garage is part of the house.
Alarm questions from San Gabriel homeowners
How many alarms does my house need?
Count one smoke unit per bedroom, one in each sleeping-area hall, and one per story; add CO units per story and by the bedrooms. That follows federal safety advice.
Should a CO alarm go near the wall heater?
Keep it off the wall right over the heater. Federal guidance also rules out kitchens and spots by supply registers.
My alarm keeps chirping with a fresh battery. Why?
That beep pattern usually means the sensor has aged out. A battery will not cure it; the unit comes down.
Can alarms be mounted on plaster?
Yes, with anchors suited to plaster and lath. We avoid cracking the finish.
Are linked alarms worth it?
Yes. A linked set means a trip at the far end of the house is heard in every bedroom.
What does the test button check?
Just the horn and electronics. Go by the printed replacement age for the sensor.
How often should I check them?
Press and hold the button every month.
I rent out a house. Who handles alarms?
State law places that duty on you as the owner of the leased house.
Do combination units work as well?
A dual-listed unit does both jobs and leaves one fewer hole in an old plaster ceiling.
Will you haul away the old alarms?
Yes, they leave with us in a bag along with the packaging from the new ones.
Related guides
- Small updates that make an older home easier for aging parentsSmall changes that make an older San Gabriel home easier for aging parents: lever handles, easier switches, better lighting, a handheld shower and more.
- A move-in checklist for an older houseWhat to check and fix when you move into an older San Gabriel home, from shutoffs and smoke alarms to locks, outlets and window hardware.
We’re a handyman in San Gabriel for small repairs like this one, with an upfront price by text.
This job sits in our electrical fixture swaps group. For other repairs, see the services overview, or start with the repair guide for San Gabriel’s older homes.